Vision 2030 Community Mental Health grants – applications now being taken.

16 Jun 2021 by Stuart Ashmore

Vision 2030 sets out the ambitions towards making Sandwell (in 2030) a thriving, optimistic and resilient community. Central to this vision is the message of closer partnership working between all sectors and communities across the borough.

The aspiration is for Sandwell (now and in the future) to be where we call home and where we’re proud to belong – where we choose to bring up our families, where we feel safe and cared for, enjoying good health, rewarding work, feeling connected and valued in our neighbourhoods and communities, confident in the future, and benefiting fully from a revitalised West Midlands.

SCVO is delivering this grant programme, on behalf of and in partnership with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, to enable voluntary and community groups to deliver activities in Sandwell, and to Sandwell residents, to support the following priority:

Purpose of the Fund – Improving Community Mental Health

The Covid-19 pandemic has had significant and wide-ranging impact across the borough and its communities, particularly in the area of adult mental health.

In line with Sandwell Council’s ‘Stronger Sandwell’ approach to improving health and wellbeing, and in order to complement existing mental health provision and targeted interventions, this grant programme focuses specifically on the area of promoting positive community mental health with funding being available to support early help/preventative activities; that are run BY local people FOR local people. This programme provides both funding to resource activities and in-kind support (e.g. guidance, training, information, etc..) to build the capacity of the organisation and its staff around positive mental health.

This programme of funding seeks to support organisations that meet ALL of the following criteria:

  • Have a high profile within the community and strong engagement with local residents;
  • Are motivated to improve the mental health offer across Sandwell (i.e. interested in offering universal activities for all, not targeted interventions);
  • Can identify a mental health need within their organisation and/or community;
  • Can identify development/learning needs for improving their organisational approach to mental health;
  • Are prepared to work in partnership with the Community Mental Health Task Force (CMHTF – see guidance notes);
  • Are committed to receiving and benefiting from the non-financial support available;
  • Have expertise to offer to the wider sector.

and will:

  • Support the community response to Covid-19 and the impact on adult (aged 18+) mental health;
  • Promote a ‘build back better’ approach – helping to develop existing ‘community assets’ to support longer term community resilience;
  • Be available to support new or existing client groups, which can also include organisations’ employees and volunteers;
  • Be available for organisational delivery, training, and learning activities – both internally and externally;
  • Focus on outcomes. For example, increasing awareness and health literacy, reducing stigma, embedding preventative approaches, supporting organisational culture change, enhancing the early help offer, and improving access to community services.

Grants are available between £500 and £5,000

The closing date/time for the receipt of applications to be considered in this round is Monday 28th February 2022 at 12 Noon.

For further information please download the Guidance Notes (pdf) and then contact SCVO’s Community Partnerships Coach, Liz Webster – email: liz@scvo.info / Tel: 0121 525 1127 or 07923 259821 – for a discussion about your idea (after which you will be sent the relevant application form).